左邻右舍

左鄰右舍
zuǒlín-yòushè
idiom #54,361

Meanings

  1. 1 neighbors on all sides
  2. 2 next-door neighbors
  3. 3 the people living nearby

Examples

HSK 5
Hé zuǒlín-yòushè gǎohǎo guānxì hěn zhòngyào.
Getting along well with your neighbors is very important.
HSK 7-9
Guònián de shíhou, zuǒlín-yòushè hùxiāng bàinián.
At New Year, neighbors pay each other visits to exchange greetings.
HSK 7-9
Tīngdào hūjiù shēng, zuǒlín-yòushè dōu gǎnlái bāngmáng.
Hearing the cries for help, neighbors from all around rushed over to assist.

Tips

history
From Wu Cheng'en's Ming-dynasty 《西游记》: 云来雾去,走石飞砂,唬得我一家并左邻右舍,俱不得安生 - 'clouds came and fog went, stones flew and sand blew, frightening my whole household and all the neighbors so that none could live in peace.'
memory
Literally 'left-neighbors, right-houses' - the four characters mirror a traditional Chinese courtyard layout where homes sit on your left and right sides.

Stroke Order

zuǒ
lín
yòu
shě